MY QUESTION WAR IN THE GULF

* QUESTION: If the United States government were to officially declare war, could the gulf war protesters be arrested for treason?

* ANSWER: No. The Bill of Rights in our Constitution guarantees Americans the right to disagree publicly with the actions of our government. Part of the First Amendment states: "Congress shall pass no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." So in America, unlike many other countries, protesters can speak out freely against any action of the government. It's guaranteed in our Constitution. As a matter of fact, the Bill of Rights is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year.

WAR WORDS

* REFUGEE -- A person who flees from home or country.

* RESERVIST -- A person who trains for military service but is called to active duty only in a time of war or crisis.

* REVETMENT -- A retaining wall made of sand or earth, designed to protect soldiers from flying shell fragments.

* THEATER OF OPERATIONS -- The region where a war is being fought.

FACT OR FICTION?

MOST IRAQIS LIVE IN THE DESERT.

* Fiction: According to The World Almanac, 72 percent of the people in Iraq live in urban areas. About 3.4 million people live in and around the country's only major city, Baghdad. About 80 percent of all Americans live in urban areas.